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| Muscle
Mustangs & Fast Fords Article - March 2004 |
Generation
Gap 2
Prometheus is said to have given humans fire, but Kenne Bell gave Lightning owners
an appetite for Eaton annihilation.
By John Hedenberg
Photography: John Hedenburg, Steve Baur, Michael Galimi |
Last month, we focused on the First-Gen, 351-powered,
normally aspirated Lightnings and saw some high
10-second performances in the process. Now, in
part two, we'll
shift our attention towards the factory-supercharged 5.4-propelled SVT monsters.
We invited 11 trucks to our 2003 gathering, including hitters and past attendees
Johnny Lightning of Johnny Lightning Performance, Jim D'Amore of JDM Engineering
and Sal Mennella of Power Surge Performance. Unfortunately, Mennella broke his
red '01 SVT cruiser and could not attend, but the rest of the Lightning contingent
put up a fight that would make Don King jealous. |
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| FIRST
PLACE |
|
Johnny "Lightning" Wiker
Johnny Wiker had participated in our past shootouts with terrific results. Last
year, he carded a third-place finish with a 10.911 at 121.99 mph, but this
time he came loaded for bear with some lightweight front end components from
Anthony Jones Engineering and a rebuilt transmission, which was damaged just
days before
our party.
Thanks in part to an all-night thrash by Pat Barrett of Level 10 Transmissions
in Hamburg, New Jersey, Wiker was able to get to our bash with barely enough
sleep to propel his ride to the finish line. With a brand new tranny and converter,
Wiker stole the glory from the rest of the contingent with the quickest pass
of the day, a stellar 10.683 at 126.25 mph. Just days after our shootout Wiker
bettered that time with an even quicker 10.44 at 129 mph.
STRIP SPECS
Owner: Johnny Wiker, a.k.a. Johnny Lightning
Hometown: New Providence, Pennsylvania
Driver: Johnny Lightning
Year/Model: '01 Lightning
Weight w/driver: 4,300 pounds
Engine: 355ci Johnny Lightning Performance
Built by: Johnny Lightning Performance
Power adder: Kenne Bell twin-screw
Intercooler: Stock with Johnny Lightning
Performance Super Cooler and heat exchanger
Maximum boost: 22 pounds
Intake manifold: SLP
Cylinder heads: Johnny Lightning Performance Stage 5
Compression ratio: 8.9:1
Camshafts: Johnny Lightning Performance Stage 5 cams
Ignition: Stock with Kenne Bell Boost-A-Spark
Exhaust: Johnny Lightning Performance headers,
Bassani X-pipe and mufflers
Transmission: Level 10 Torque Master
Converter/clutch: Precision Industries
Rear type: Stock with 3.55:1 gears
Wheels (F/R): Bogart 15x4 1/2, 15x10
Tires F/R: Hoosier 30x10 slicks
Suspension front: Anthony Jones Engineering frontend with coilover springs, Aerospace
brakes
Suspension rear: Johnny Lightning Performance lift bars, QA1 shocks, fiberglass
leaf springs
Best e.t./mph: 10.683/127.75 |
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Strip Log |
| Run
# |
E.T |
MPH |
| 1 |
11.048 |
125.94 |
| 2 |
10.821 |
127.75 |
| 3 |
11.126 |
125.90 |
| 4 |
10.693 |
126.25 |
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